Control unit for composing machines



June 1, 1954 w. J. ZENNER 2,679,923

CONTROL UNIT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES Filed July 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER ZENNER ATTORNEY June 1954 w. J. ZENNER CONTROL UNIT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1952 on I m i INVENTOR WALTER J. ZENNER B61 f? ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1954 CONTROL UNIT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES Walter J. Zenner, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Teletypesetter Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 18, 1952, Serial No. 299,557

8 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in line casting and composing machines and more particularly to automatic control mechanisms therefor.

The present invention features generally an automatic control mechanism applicable to standard types of line casting machines without changing the manual operating features thereof, and retaining other characteristic features of these machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide in an automatic control mechanism for composing machines, a selector mechanism having attributes of simplicity, lighter Weight and smoothness of performance.

Specifically, the device according to the present invention is controlled by a perforated control form or tape which may be prepared by the operation of a machine such as disclosed in Patent No. 2,059,250, granted November 3, 1936, to H. L. Krum, and which is fed through a record reading device wherein there is provided a plurality of feeler members each one of which corresponds to a position in the tape that may or may not be provided with a perforation depending upon the particular code combination that is being read or sensed. Upon each momentary arrest of the control form the several feelers sense the code combination perforated in the particular position and upon the next movement the combination is transferred to an intermediate set of Storage devices following which a set of code bars are also positioned in accordance with such code combination. The code bars are provided on their upper edges with a uniform series of wards and notches, and the selectable elements are provided with coded projections for cooperating with the code bars, which projections are offset to the right Or left in coded manner according to the code assigned to the particular selectable element. For each permutation of the code bars one and only one of these selectable elements may be placed into selected position, and when any particular one is thus selected it permits a push bar or interponent to fall in front of the free extremity thereof, whereupon a bail operated by a toggle mechanism is effective to restore the selectable element and simultaneously to actuate the push bar to, in turn, operate an associated .key lever actuator to depress a key lever with a sharp staccato blow simulating the touch of the operator's finger when it is manually operated. An eccentric cam is utilized to operate the toggle mechanism thus resulting in smooth performance at high speeds.

A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through the keyboard and matrix release mechanism of the composing machine illustrating the selector mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating an 1 initial or selection stage in the automatic operation of a key lever;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the operational stage in the automatic operation of a key lever; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the record reading mechanism and associated parts.

Inasmuch as the disclosure herein set forth is in the nature of an improvement of the control unit disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,091,286 issued August 31, 1937 to H. L. Krum et al., only so much of the mechanism of the patented structure will be hereinafter set forth as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. Reference may be had to said patent for a fuller understanding of the control unit not described hereinafter in detail.

Referring to Fig. 1, wherein is shown a crosssectional view of a line casting and composing machine embodying a control unit according to the present invention, there is provided a main framework 2| (of the control unit), more fully described in said Patent No. 2,091,286, and which is mounted beneath the standard keyboard 22, customarily provided with line casting and composing machines, in a manner indicated in said Patent No. 2,091,286. While in the case of the majority of the weight bars 23 there is provided not only a manually operated key lever 26 but also an independent automatically operated lever 21, it will be noted that this is not true in the case of those characters whose manually operated key levers are situated in the lower two rows of the six horizontal rows of key levers. In the case of these two rows of key levers, instead of providing separate automatically operated levers 21, each key lever 24 has been modified by the addition thereto of an offset portion 26 generally similar to the corresponding portions 26 of the key levers 21, but in this case integrally formed with the manually operated key levers.

Having reference to Fig. 1, wherein a typical cross-section through the selector and matrix release mechanisms is indicated, attention is directed to the standard keyboard construction in particular contemplation of which this structure has been designed. Key levers 24 pivoted on shafts 25 are suitably articulated to move members or weights 23 as at 29 admitting of considerable lost motion at their several points of articulation by virtue of excess clearance 3|. A particular touch is obtained by providing a uniform leverage ratio in all of the key levers, although, as is readily seen, each horizontal row proceeding downwardly is progressively longer than its preceding one. The weights 23 are provided with several notches 3| so as to be adaptable to standard replacement in connection with other of the several key levers. Additional key levers 21 pivoted at 32 are mounted for engagement with the lowermost notch 3i of certain of the several weights 23 and are provided with offset extensions 25 that protrude through a panel 33 of the keyboard. Thus, it will be seen that as to the release of matrices controlled by key levers in the upper four rows, Fig. 1, either the manual control levers 2 2 or the automatic control levers 2'! may be operated independently and that in so doing, the other or unoperated of the two remains inert and does not in any way enter into motion either associatively or collaterally, but as to the release of matrices controlled by the key levers in the lower two rows a single lever is utilized for operation both manually and automatically.

An alignment of key lever actuators or function mechanisms 35 fulcrumed on a common shaft 36 is disposed to overlap the afore-mentioned extensions or portions 23 so as to engage them when rotated clockwise. The actuators 35 may be pivotally mounted positively on shaft 35, or they may be pivotally articulated as illustrated in said Patent No. 2,091,286, wherein the key lever actuators are provided with recessed portions through the instrumentality of which the several actuators 35 are seated upon the shaft 36 for the purpose of providing a yield. Pivotally connected to the actuators 35 are individual depending members or interponents 31 cooperating with corresponding ones of a plurality of selectable elements or function control bars 38 forming a part of the improved selector mechanism 40, according to the present'invention, the operation of which is controlled in the following manner.

Having reference to Fig. 4, there is shown a record reader, indicated generally as M, which through a transfer mechanism 42 controls the permutative setting of a series of intermediate bars 43, which in turn control the permutative setting of a series of permutation code bars 45. Code bars 4 3 control the selection of a group of selectable elements 38 which in turn control the interponents 3? to effectuate the selective operation of actuators 35.

The record reader 4! comprises a. set of feeler levers 48 (six in the present instance), so called because of their function in sensing the attributes of a transverse line or row of tape perforations. Levers 45 are provided with arms 41 which carry feeler or sensing pins 48, and are also provided with projections 49 serving to be engaged by a bail 51 for periodically withdrawing the levers 46 in accordance with each successive reading or sensing of the record or control tape. The bail moves as part of a bell crank structure 52 which also is actuated by the shaft 53 through a cam 54 and roller 55.

Feeler levers 4B are each provided with a pair of depending portions 56 and 51 and counterclockwise bias is normally imparted to levers 43 by individual springs 53. Portions 53 and 51 are adapted to cooperate with a pair of abutments 59 and on associated ones of a corresponding series of transfer T-levers 62 mounted pivotally on a pivot stud E33 fixed to one arm of a bell crank lever 64 pivoted at 65, the short arm of which abuts a short arm of another bell crank lever 66 also pivoted at 65, the other end of which carries a roller 3? spring urged by a spring 88 to follow the peripheral surface of a cam 69 secured to the shaft 53.

The abutments E9 and 5| are so spaced apart that when either of the two portions 56 or 51 is brought into registration with its associated abutment 55 or M the other of the shoulders or portions 53 or 5'? just clears its associated abutment 53 or iii on T-lever E2. Feeler levers 38 are provided with an intermediate orifice 'H having sufficient clearance with respect to a fixed rod 12 positioned thereinto so as to permit of a slight reciprocative motion by the levers iii. In its limit of movement each feeler lever it may be positioned so that one or the other of its shoulders 56 or 5? is brought into registration with its associated abutment 53 or 6 l. The cam 69 has a gradually ebbing apex and when it is rotated together with its shaft 55 it imparts a regular and reciprocating motion to the lever E l-66 and associated T-levers 62.

T-levers 62 are provided with disk portions 13 by means of which they are articulated to bars 43 through slots 14. Bars 43 are in turn provided with projections 13 through which they are articulated to code bars 44. Thus, it will be seen that in accordance with the timed action of hell crank 52 and lever t l-8'6 the set of feelers 46 will first be permitted to rotate counterclockwise during which time those whose pins 48 are not blocked by the tape 16, but which are brought into registration with a perforation thereof, will be permitted to rotate until their respective shoulders is? register opposite the abutment lugs Bl while the others which are not permitted to do so will remain in position with their shoulders 56. in registration opposite the abutment lugs 59.

Immediately following this condition, the cam 69 moving lever 3-66 counterclockwise forces the several T-levers 62 into engagement with their respective feeler levers 46 and, depending upon which of the two positions the feeler levers happen to assume, T-levers 62, upon being rocked about pivot 63, will be correspondingly positioned and will impart a similar positionment to their associated bars 33. In this manner the combination of perforations present in each transverse alignment in the tape is translated simultaneously to the six code bars 44. Following each such translation the tape it is stepped forward until another transverse alignment of perforations is brought into registration with the feeler pins 38. This stepping is accomplished by a pawl i? and ratchet wheel '33 under the control of av cam (not shown) on shaft 53, in a manner disclosed in the aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 2,091,286.: The ratchet Wheel i8 is secured to a shaft 19 which also carries a sprocket wheel at having teeth especially adapted to register with the central longitudinal row of perforations of the control tape in accordance with the well known practice. operates all of the mechanical agencies that control the record reader mechanism.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that While the several feeler levers 45 are brought back to a normal or starting position at some In this manner the single shaft 53" definite point in each cycle of operation, yet the transfer levers B2 and their articulated slide bars 43 are not so restored, but may be set in conformity with a new code combination regardless of their previous position. This practice permits of an overlap in the operation of the two sets of levers and allows the code bars 44 maximum time to rest during each cycle of operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, the code bars 44, as previously mentioned are provided on their upper edges with a uniform series of wards 8I and notches 82 (Fig. 4), and the selectable elements 38 are provided with coded projections 33 for cooperating with the code bars 44, which projections 83 are ofiset to the right or left in coded manner according to the code assigned to the particular selectable element 38. The group of selectable elements 38 are mounted pivotally on a common pivot shaft 84 and are normally biased toward the code bars 44 by individual springs 85. Selectable elements 38, thus tend to move into selective engagement with the code bars 44 but are restrained therefrom by a bail member 86 cooperating with the free extremities of said elements 38, as shown in Fig. 1. Ball member 86-comprises a pair of arms 87 (one of which is shown in Fig. 1) through whichsaid bail, in the present embodiment, is mounted pivotally on the pivot shaft 34.

-The oscillating movement of bail member 86 is controlled by a pair of toggle means, each comprising links 88 and 89. Link 88 at one end is mounted on a pivot shaft 91 journaled in theframe of the machine, and at the other end thereof, link 89 is connected pivotally to one end of the other link 88, which at its other end is pivotally connected at pivot 92 to the bail arm 81. Also connected pivotally at 92 is an arm 93 of a reciprocating drive member 98 operatively associated with the eccentric cam 95 securecl'to a drive shaft 98 suitably journaled in the apparatus. Secured to links 89 of the pair of toggle means is a stripper bar 9'! adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of the depending members 31 to disengage the shoulders of a member 81 from the free end of a selected element 38. Light tension springs 98 and 99 normally bias members 3'! and lever 35 into operative relationship with their respective cooperating members 38 and 2B.

In the operation of the control mechanism according to the present invention, the code bars 44 are set permutably under the control of the record reader M as previously described. In proper timed relation with respect to the permutative setting of code bars M, the shaft 96 is released for rotation, in response to which the eccentric cam 95, through member 84, will cause the collapse of the toggle means to permit bail 86 to be lowered to facilitate the selection of a selectable element 38 in accordance with the selective relationship between the notches 82 and wards 8| of code bars 44 and the code projections 83 of the elements 38. An element 38 upon being selected will present its free end beneath the line or level of a shoulder I88 of the associated depending member or interponent 31, thus permitting the spring 88 to swing the companion member 3! (when allowed to do so by the collapsing of the toggle means and the consequent withdrawal of stripper bar 97) to present the shoulder H38 thereof into the path of the tip of the selected element 38. Then, when the bail 86 is lifted, due to the subsequent straightening of thctoggle means, the selected element 38 is rotated clockwise about the pivot shaft 84 a predetermined amount, thereby causing the inter ponent 31 to rotate the connected actuator 35 a predetermined amount to depress the key lever 26. In the operation of the toggle means, the links 88 and 89 are permitted to move a slight amount past dead center to cause stripper bar 91 to disengage the currently operated member 3'! preparatory to effecting the succeeding operation.

Although the selector mechanism according to the present invention has other applications, it is disclosed in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. l, as incorporated into a line casting and composing machine having a matrix release mechanism controlled by the record reader 4| (Fig. 4) through the selector mechanism 48 (Fig. 1). The operation of any of the weights 23, either through the medium of the manually controlled key lever 24 or through the automatically controlled lever 27, results in releasing a corresponding one of a plurality of time delay mechanisms. This is accomplished by rotating trigger IIH counterclockwise until it ceases to support its cam yoke I82 whereupon the latter member drops until the peripheral teeth of cam I84, which is pivoted between the tines of said yoke, engage a continuously rotating rubber roller I85. The engagement between the teeth I83 and the roller I85 imparts a clockwise motion to the cam I88 which, on account of its eccentricity raises yoke I82 until its remote end I06 abutting a release reed I81 imparts a timed stroke through the matrix release mechanism,

illustrated generally at l 88, whereupon it is again supported by the trigger I IN pending another release movement.

The purpose of the timed release mechanism, as is generally known, is to permit of suflicient time in the magazine trip 988 without having to expend the same amount of time in depressing a control key 28 or 21. The imperativeness of such an element of delay is made of principal importance in view of the fact that the matrices are released and allowed to gravitate into assembled relation, for without such, and particularly under the speed of automatic control, a direct release means might be actuated and be restored to normal position before its matrix has had timeto move from its magazine I89. One of these overlap mechanisms is provided with each of the levers 21 whose function it is to release a matrix I II from the magazine I89.

Of the several code bars 44 in the present embodiment (Fig. 1), six of them are positioned in each cycle of operation through the agencyx of the record reader mechanism 8|, while a seventh code bar I [5, called the shift code bar, is positioned or shifted under the control of the code bars 44, as fully described in said U. S. Patent No. 2,091,286. Although six code bars 84 are contemplated in the present disclosure, it is understood that any number of code bars may be employed to suit the desired selective possibilities.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a control unit, a series of permutation elements, means for setting said permutation elements in predetermined positions,

a plurality of function mechanisms, a set of function control bars for said mechanisms selectable by said permutation elements, an operating bail common to said function control bars, toggle means for operating said ball, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle means, said second element connected to said operating bail, and interponent means, said interponent means having engageable shouldered facilities cooperable with the BX' tremities of respective function control bars, whereby upon the selection of a function control bar under the control of said ball a companion interponent means is brought into engaging relation therewith to be operated by said operating means to eifect the operation of a selected function mechanism.

2. In combination in a control unit, a series of permutation elements, means for setting said permutation elements in predetermined positions, a plurality of function mechanisms, a set of function control bars for said mechanisms selectable by said elements, an operating bail common to said function control bars, toggle means for operating said bail, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle means, said second element connected to said operating bail, interponent means, said interponent means having engageable shouldered facilities cooperable with the extremities of respective function control bars, whereby upon the selection of a function control bar under the control of said bail a companion interponent means is brought into engaging relation therewith to be operated by said operating means to effect the operation of a selected function mechanism, and. cooperating disengaging facilities associated with said toggle means and said interponents to disengage said interponents from the function control bar following operation of the selected function mechanism.

3. In combination in a control unit, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of permutative selector bars, signal controlled means for variously positioning said bars to effect the individual selection of said elements, a bail member effective to block the selective response of av selected element for a predetermined interval when said bars are positioned to allow its selective freedom and to permit said response after the transition of a predetermined interval, a plurality of inter ponents, each responsively associated with a selectable element, a toggle means for operating said bail member, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle, said second element connected to said bail member, said interponents having engageable shouldered facilities cooper-able with the extremities of respective selectable elements, whereby upon a selective response of a selectable element under the control of said bail member a companion interponent is brought into engaging relation therewith to be subsequently actuated by said toggle operating means to initiate functional operations.

4. In combination in a controlunit, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of permutative select'or bars, signal controlled means for variously positioning said bars to eifect the individual selection of said elements, a bail member effective to block the selective response of a selected element for a predetermined interval when said bars are positioned to allow their selective freedom and to permit said response after the transition of a predetermined interval, a plurality of interponents, each responsively associated with a selectable element, a toggle means for operating said bail member, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle, said second element connected to said bail member, said interponents having engagefrom the selectable elements following initiation of the selected functional operation.

5. In combination, a plurality of instrumentalities to be actuated, record reading means, a set of permutation bars having code notch accommodations, means for transferring the selective condition of said record reading means to said permutation bars, a plurality of selectable members cooperable with respective ones of said code notch accommodations, bail means to effectuate the actuation of said members toward and away from said permutation bars, a plurality ofinterponents each responsively coactive witha selectable member, and toggle means for operating said bail means, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a 7 second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle, said second element connected to said bail means, said interponents having engageable shouldered facilities cooperable with the extremities of respective selectable members, whereby upon a selective response of said members under the control of said bail means a companion interponent is brought into engaging relation therewith to actuate an instrumentality.

6. In combination, a plurality of instrumentalities to be actuated, record reading means, a

set of permutation bars having code notch accommodations, means for transferring the selective condition of said record reading means to said permutation bars, a plurality of selectable members cooperable with respective ones of said code notch accommodations, bail means to effectuate the actuation of said members toward and away from said permutation bars, a plurality of interponents each responsively coactive with a selectable member, toggle means for operating said bail means, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle, said second element connected to saidbail means, said interponents having engageable shouldered facilities cooperable with the extremities of respective selectable members, whereby upon a selective response of said members under the control of said bail means a companion interponent is brought into engaging relation therewith to actuate an instrumentality, and cooperating disengaging facilities associated with said toggle means and said interponents to disengage said interponents from the selectable elements following the actuation of an instrumentality.

7. In combination, a plurality of instrumentalities to be actuated, record reading means, a set of permutation bars having code notch accommodations, means for transferring the selective condition of said record reading means to said permutation bars, a plurality of selectable members cooperable with respective ones of said code notch accommodations, bail means to effectuate the actuation of said members toward and away from said permutation bars, a plurality of interponents each responsively coactive with a selectable member, toggle means for operating said bail means, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle, said second element connected to said bail means, said interponents having engageable shouldered facilities cooperable with the extremities of respective selectable members, whereby upon a selective response of said members under the control of said bail means a companion interponent is brought into engaging relation therewith to actuate an instrumentality,

a stripper bar carried by said toggle means, and

further facilities associated with said interponents and cooperable with said stripper bar to effectuate under predetermined operating conditions the disengagement of said interponents from said selectable elements.

8. In a control unit for automatically and selectively operating a plurality of key levers adapted for manual operation, a plurality of key lever actuators, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of notched permutation elements severally positioned to control through said selectable elements the operation of said actuators individually, a record reading means, means for transferring the selective condition of said record reading means to said permutation elements, bail means to effectuate the actuation of said selectable elements toward and away from said permutation elements, a plurality of interponents corresponding severally with said selectable elements, said interponents having engageable shouldered facilities cooperably related to the extremities of respective selectable elements, and toggle means for operating said bail means, said toggle means comprising a first element pivotally articulated to a second element, an eccentric drive means connected to said first element to impart alternatively a collapsing action and a straightening action to said toggle means, said second element connected to said operating bail, whereby upon a selective response of said selectable elements in accordance with the selective condition of said record reading means an interponent is brought into engaging relation with a companion selectable element to actuate a key lever actuator under the control of said ball means.

References Cited in the file of, this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,292,944 Wright Jan. 28, 1919 1,946,915 Pierce Feb. 13, 1934 2,091,286 Krum Aug. 31, 1937 

